Air conditioning system



May 7, 194% H. E. HARTIG AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM File d Sept. 9, 1937 iNVENTOR Henry E. Hen rtixg ATTORNEY an i Patented May 7, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Henry E. Hartig, Robbinsdale, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn.', a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to an air conditionin system, and while it is illustrated in connection with a heating system using gas as a fuel, it should be understood that it is equally applicable to heating systems using other kinds of fuel, and to other types of air conditionin systems. I

It is common practice in heating systems using a fluid fuel such as gas to control the supply of gas to a heater by means of a room thermostat so that when the temperature of the room is below a desired value, a valve is operated to permit the flow of gas to the heater, and when the temperature of the room has risen to the desired value, the flow of gas is cut off, and remains off until more heat is required in the room as a result of the temperature in the room again falling below the desired value.

This type of control system has certain disadvantages which this invention aims to overcome. When the room thermostat calls for heat, there is a considerable time lag before the effect of the flow of gas to the heater is felt in the room, with the result that the temperature of the room may continue to fall for a time after the room thermostat calls for heat, and because of the fact that the heater is running at full capacity during the time that the room thermostat is calling for heat, there is considerable likelihood that after the room thermostat is satisfied, the temperature of the system may continue to rise for atirne because of the heat in the heating system. The result is that instead of maintaining a nearly constant temperature in the room. thetempera= ture may vary between considerable limits, the difference between the maximum and minimum temperature being sufficient to cause discomfort to the occupants of the room.

One reason for the time lag between the time that the room thermostat calls for heat and the time that the temperature of the room begins to rise, or stops falling is that during the time the room thermostat is satisfied, or not calling for heat, the heating plant is completely shut down and the residual heat left in the system is assisting in maintaining the proper temperature. A large portion of this residual heat in the heating system may be used up before the temperature drops below the desired value, and this must be restored before any substantial effect on the temperature of the room by the heating plant is felt.

This difficulty is overcome in my system by supplying continuously the proper amount of fuel to maintain the desired temperature, so that as long as the amount of heat required to maintain the desired temperature is constant by reason of a constant outdoor temperature, etc., the room thermostat will always remain satisfied. If the outdoor temperature begins to drop with the result that the amount of fuel being supplied is insufficient to maintain the proper temperature, the room thermostat calls for more heat and the supply of fuel is increased. Since of the room rising after the room thermostat is satisfied are likewise greatly diminished. The result is that a more even temperature is maintained in the room, resulting in greater comfort to the occupants, as well as a saving in fuel.

It is recognized that attempts have been made to provide a molulated control for a heating system wherein there is a continuous flow of fuel to a heater, but, while some of these systems have been able to partially compensate for some variations in the heat demand,,none of the systems heretofore, so far as I am aware, have been able to compensate for all the variations in the heat demand and maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the space being heated while supplying a continuous flow of fuel. With my system, I amable to maintain the temperature of the space substantially uniform, by periodically determining how much fuel is required, and then supplying this amount of fuel at a uniform rate.

In order to accomplish these results, I have provided a fuel supply valve with a pair of operating members. At the end of a predetermined heating period, the first operating member adjusts the valve to a position wherein the supply of fuel is at a rate which is equal to the average rate of supply for the predetermined heating period. The other valve operating member, which is under the control of a room thermostat, can adjust the valve a limited amount above or below the position determined by the first operating member according to whether the temperature of the room is too low or too high. At the end of another similar heating period, the valve is again adjusted by the first operator if the average demand for heat has been different from that of the preceding period. Thus, there is always a certain flow ofv heat during the heating season, which may be increased or decreased according to the amount of heat necessary to keep the temperature of the room uniform, but under ordinary conditions the flow of heat will become substantially uniform. as long as the amount of heat required to maintain a uniform temperature does not change materially.

The above advantages of my system would obviously be applicable to a cooling system, for example, as well as to a heating system.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved air conditioning system wherein the condition of the air is maintained at a substantially constant value.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide a temperature controlling system wherein the temperature of a space is maintained substantially constant by continuously supplying the proper amount of a temperature changing medium.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a thermostatically controlled heating sys-- tem in which the time lag between the time there is a call for heat and the time the temperature in the space being heated starts to rise, is greatly reduced, and in which the chances of the temperature rising higher than that desired are greatly diminished.

Other objects will become apparent upon a study of the specification, claims, and appended drawing, in which the single flgtu'e illustrates a preferred form of my improved system.

Referring to the drawing, a gas burner is indicated by the reference character iii and a supply pipe M is provided for conducting fuel to said burner. Mounted in the supply pipe is a valve indicated generally by the reference character l? for controlling the amount of fuel passing through said pipe. For insuring the ignition oi the fuel issuing from burner ill a pilot it is provide through which fuel constantly flows from the pipe line H through a pipe it. A meter i5 is provided for measuring the amount of fuel passing through the pipe ii, and driven by said meter is a gear it which is rotated in the direction of the arrow. Gear it is in mesh with a rack. ill which in turn rests on rollers it and it, said rack being connected by means of a linlr ill to an arm ill for a purpose to be later described. Mounted above the rack it is an electro"- magnet 22 which, when energized, causes rack M to be moved upwardly and out of engagement with the driving gear I6. A spring 23 causes said rack to be moved toward the right when the rack is moved upwardly under the influence oi electromagnet 22.

Magnet 22 is periodically energized by means of a constantly rotating motor 30, said motor including an armature 3| and a field winding 32. Cams 33 and 34 are constantly driven by said motor at a low speed through reduction gearing 35. Each oi. these cams includes a bridging member 36 and 31, respectively. Cooperating with the bridging member 36 are contacts 38 and 39 which control the circuit through magnet 22. It will therefore be seen that this magnet is energized periodically or when element 36 bridges contacts 38 and 39.

For supplying current to the motor 30, there V is a transformer 40 which includes a high tension primary 4| and a low tension secondary 42, primary ll being connected to lines I00 and IOI which are in turn connected to a suitable source of power (not shown).

Referring to valve I2 it will be seen that this valve includes a sliding valve member 50 having a port somewhat smaller than the bore through the valve body for a purpose to be later set forth. Valve member 50 includes an upwardly projecting stem 5i connected to a link 52 which is in turn pivotally connected to a lever 53. Lever 53 is actuated by crank members 54 and 55 which are connected to said lever by means of links 56 and 57, respectively, being pivoted thereto at 58 and 59. The location of pivot 60 of link 52 on lever 53 may be considerably nearer pivot 58 than pivot 59 so that if pivot 58 is held stationary, thereby acting as a fulcrum for the lever 63, movement of pivot lit will cause a relatively small movement of valve member to whereas an equal movement of pivot 58, when pivot b9 acting as the fulcrum, will cause a 1.

relatively large movement of valve member 5t.

Cranlr member t l is rotated by means of a motor generally" indicated by "the reference character "ill, this motor being of the condenser induction type and includes an armature ll, field winding i2, ileld winding "ill and a condenser it. Crank member M is mounted on a shaft '15 driven at low speed by armature it through reduction gearing it.

The field windings i2 and it are connected together at one end and the other ends are connected together through the condenser lid. The junction of windings l2 and "it is permanently connected to one side of the secondary of a step-down transformer the high tension priti so thatcondenser "it may be placed in serieswith either win-ding it or winding l3, depending upon which switch is connected to the source of power. When winding 13 is connected to the source oi power through condenser M the other winding is directly connected across the secondary lit and winding I3 leads winding 12 in .phase whereupon the motor rotates in the direc tion of the arrow. If condenser 14 is placed in series with winding I2 then this winding leads winding "I3 in phase and the direction of rotation of armature H is reversed. Current to the motor I0 passes through contacts 9i and 92 which are closed only when cam 34 is rotated to the position in which member 31 thereon bridges these contacts. It will thus be seen that motor 10 is actuated only periodically.

For controlling the direction of rotation of armature 10 is a relay I05 of the balanced type which includes opposed coils I08 and I01, an armature I08 connected to a switch arm I09, said switch arm cooperating with fixed contacts H0 and III. Armature I08 moves in the direction of the more highly energized coil, causing a corresponding movement of switch arm I09, and when the coils are equally energized, the armature is in mid position, as illustrated. Relay coils I06 and I01 are connected together at one end thereof, the other end of coil I08 being connected by means of conductors H2 and H3 to one side of the transformer secondary 80 and coil I01 being connected through a conductor II4 to the other side of secondary 80. Also connected to the opposite ends of coils I06 and I01 is a potentiometer resistance I I8, one end of resistance H8 being connected through conductor II9, a resistance I20 and conductor I2I to coil I06 and the other end of said resistance II8 being connected by means of conductor I22, a resistance I23 and conductor I24 to the coil I01. Arm 2|, previously described, is arranged to move across resistance II8, this arm being connected by means of conductors I25 and I26 to the junction of coils I06 and I01. A second potentiometer resistance I30 is connected in parallel with resistance H8 and the relay coils as clearly illustrated. An arm I3I is arranged to sweep across resistance I30, this arm being connected by means of conductor I32 and conductors I25 and I20 to arm 2| and the mid point of the relay coils, respectively. Arm I3I is mounted on shaft 15 to rotate therewith and in such a sense that a relay unbalance caused by movement of arm 2| will be reduced and eventually removed by the movement of arm I3I. It will be seen that resistances H8, I30 and the relay coils are all connected in parallel to a source of power. Should arm 2| move to the right it will be apparent that the coil I06 will be more highly energized than coil I01 and should this arm be moved to the left the reverse will be true. This potentiometer is a control potentiometer for a relay I05, potentiometer I30 being a balancing potentiometer. In other words, if arm 2| has been moved to the left, thereby energizing coil I01 more highly than coil I06, movement of arm I3I to the right will have the opposite effect on said coils and after it has been moved to the right far enough it will balance the effect of potentiometer H8 and the energization of coils I00 and I01 will be equal. It is therefore seen that movement of arm 2I to the left or the right will cause movement of armature I08 to the right or left, respectively, and effect a corresponding movement of switch arm I09. Resistances I20 and I23 are protective resistances and serve to prevent a short circuit across the transformer 8I should the potentiometer arms be in their opposite extreme positions. Switches 84 and 85 serve to break the circuit to the motor upon sufficient rotation thereof in either direction, caused by movement of arm 2I to either extreme end of potentiometer H8, in which case the insulated arm 90 causes the switch controlling the motor circuit to open.

A second motor I40 similar to motor 10 is provided for operating crank member 55. This motor includes windings HI and I42, condenser I49 and armature I44. Windings HI and I42 are connected together at one end and the junction of these windings is connected permanently to one side of the low tension secondary I54 of a transformer I55. This transformer includes a high tension primary I56 connected to line wires I00 and IN. Condenser I43 is connected between the opposite ends of windings HI and I42 and these windings are also connected to switches I45 and I46 respectively. It will be apparent that the direction of rotation of armature I44 is determined upon whether condenser I43 is in series with winding I4I or I42 in the same manner as described in connection with motor 10.

Switch I45 is composed of contact members I41 and I53 and switch I46 is composed of contact members I48 and I49. An insulated arm I50 is arranged to be constantly driven by armature I44, this member being mounted on a shaft I5I connected through reduction gearing I52 to the armature I44. Crank member 55 is also mounted on shaft I5I for rotation therewith. It will be apparent that rotation of insulated arm I50 a sumcient distance in either direction will cause either switch I45 or I46 to be opened.

For controlling the direction of rotation of armature I45 a balanced relay I60 comprising opposed coils I6I and I62, armature I58 connected to a switch arm I64 and fixed cooperating contacts I05 and I66. is provided. It will be seen that this relay is similar to relay I05 previously described. These relay coils are connected together at one end, coil I62 being connected through conductors I61 and I68 to one side of the secondary I54 of a transformer I55. The primary I56 of said transformer is connected to lines I00 and NI. Coil I6I is connected through conductors E69 and I10 to the other side of transformer secondary I54.

A thermostat I15 is located in the space being heated and this thermostat comprises bimetallic element I10 to which is connected an arm I11 for movement thereby.- Cooperating with arm I11 are fixed contacts I18 and I19, blade I11 being arranged to engage contact I18 when the temperature in the space drops to a certain value and to engage contact I19 when the temperature rises to a certain value. Contact I18 is connected through conductor I to the outer end of coil I6I and contact I18 is connected through conductor I8I to the outer end of coil I62. Connected in parallel with coils I6I and I62 is a potentiometer resistance I connected to said coils through resistances I86 and I81 and conductors I88 and I89, as shown. An arm I90 mounted on shaft I5I for rotation therewith, is arranged to sweep across resistance I85, this arm being connected to the junction of coils I6I and I62 by means of conductors I9I and I92. The bimetallic element I16 of thermostat I15 is also connected to the junction of coils I6I and I62 through conductors I93 and I92. Resistances I86 and I81 are for the purpose of preventing a short circuit across the transformer I46 regardless of the position of arms I11 and I90. It will be apparent that when the blade I11 of thermostat I15 is in engagement with contact I18, that relay coil I62 is connected directly across the transformer secondary I45 whereas coil IN is connected thereto through resistance I85 whereby the coil I62 is more highly energized than coil I6I. The reverse of this will of course be true when the thermostat blade I11 is in engagement with contact I19. If the thermostat blade I11 is in the mid position as shown and arm I90 is moved to the right, for example, it will be clear that coil I6I will be more highly energized than coil I62 and if arm I90 is moved to the left, then coil I62 will be more highly energized than coil I6I. Armature I63 is moved in the direction of the more highly energized coil and will cause a similar movement of the switch arm I64 whereupon this switch arm will engage either contacts I65 or I66 depending uponwhich relay coil is more highly energized. When the coils are equally energized, armature I63 is in mid position, as illustrated. I

With the parts in the position illustrated, valve element 50 is in mid position, in which position the amountv of gas flowing to the burner I0 is approximately half that permitted when the valve is in wide open position. The room thermostat I15 is satisfied, that is, it is neither calling for more nor less heat. The gas meter is causing rotation of gear I6 and movement of rack I1 to the left and causing arm 2I to sweep across resistance II8. Contacts 36-39 and 9I92 are open so that magnet 22 and motor 10 are both deenergized. Likewise motor I40 is deenergized since the thermostat blade I11 is neither in engagement with contact I18 or I19 and potentiometer arm I90 is in mid position as shown.

Motor 30 is being constantly rotated, field 32 being energized through conductors 200 and 20I connecting said coil to the transformer secondary 42. Accordingly, cams 33 and 34 are constantly rotating and at the end of a predetermined time from the time at'which they last engaged their respective contacts, members 36 and 31 will again engage these contacts. This period between which the contacts are closed is not critical but may be, for example, one hour, although a longer or lesser time would not seriously afiect the operation of the system. At the end of an hour, contacts 9I and 92 will be bridged by means of member 31 on cam 34. Gear I6 is causing movement of rack I1 to the left in accordance with the amount of gas passing through the meter I5.

It should be noted that, since arm I3I is in mid position, arm 2I must have been in mid position at the end of the last period, or at the time motor 10 was last operated since arm 'I3I is always moved to a position at the end of each period, in which it balances the effect of potentiometer II8 on the relay I05. The fact that arm 2 I, as illustrated, has returned to its mid position during the next period before the end of the period, indicates that the amount of gas being consumed per unit time has increased, this increase coming about because of a call for more heat by thermostat I15, which causes an increase in the flow of gas to the burner l by causing valve I2 to be more widely opened. This call for more heat may come about for example, by reason of a drop in outdoor temperature, or by reason of a window or door being opened, admitting cold air from outdoors.

When the thermostat thus calls for more heat, blade I11 engages contact I18 by reason of the effect of the lowered temperature on bimetallic element I16. As previously pointed out, movement of arm I11 into engagement with contact I18 causes relay coil I62 to become more highly energized than coil I6I whereupon switch arm I64 is moved by said armature into engagement with contact I66. Current now fiows through the motor I40 as follows: from the secondary I54 of the transformer I55 through conductors I 10, 230, switch arm I64, contact I66, conductor 23I, switch elements I53 and I41, conductor 232 through the field winding I4I throughconductors 233 and I68 to the other side of secondary I54. Current also flows through winding I42 as follows: from secondary I54 through conductors I10, 230, switch arm I64, contact I66. conductor 23I, switch elements I53 and I41, conductors 232, 235, condenser I43, conductors 236, 231 through field winding I42 and conductors 233 and I68 to the other side of secondary I54. Armature I44 now commences to rotate in the direction of the arrow causing crank member 55' to rotate in the direction of the arrow thereby moving lever 53 upwardly about pivot 58 which is now serving as a fulcrum. Valve 50 is accordingly moved upwardly and permits an additional amount of gas to flow through pipe II. Crank 55 will continue to be rotated by armature I44 until the insulated arm I50 causes switch elements I53 and I41 to open. Crank pin I58 has moved through 90 from the position shown and pivots 58, 59, and 60 are so arranged that the upward movement of valve element 50 from its last position as determined by the position of crank 54 will be limited to a fixed amount, say about 10%. In other words, if the valve element 50 was formerly about 50% wide open, the movement of crank member 55 will cause said valve to be moved to about 60% open.

Rotation of shaft II by the motor I40 causes the arm I90 to be moved to the right.

When the temperature of the room has risen to a point wherein the thermostat arm I11 moves out of engagement with contact I18 by reason of the increased fuel supply, coil I6I becomes more highly energized than coil I62 by reason of the position of arm I90 to the extreme right of resistance I85. This causes armature I63 to move to the left which in turn moves switch arm I64 into engagement with contact I65 and establishes a circuit through the motor as follows: from the transformer secondary I54 through conductors I10, 230, switch arm I64, contact I65, conductor 245, switch elements I48, I49, conductors 240, 236, condenser I43, conductor 235, field winding HI, and conductors 233 and I 68 to the other side of secondary I54. Current also fiows through winding I42 as follows: from the secondary I54'through conductors I 10, 230, switch arm I64, contact I 65. conductor 245, switch elements I48, I48, conductors 240, 231, field winding I 42, and conductors 233 and I68 to the other side of secondary I54. The motor armature I 44 now starts to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction thereby moving crank 55 in the same direction and causing said valve to move back to its previous position. The motor continues operation until arm I30, which is being moved thereby, moves back to mid position, as illustrated, whereupon the current-through coils I6I and I62 is again balanced and armature I63 moves back to its former position thereby moving switch arm I64 to-mid position and deenergizing the motor I40.

Because of the fact that additional fuel is being required during this period to maintain the desired temperature in the space being heated, the amount of gas passing through meter I5 is greater than during the previous hour, and arm 2I moves further to the left than during the preceding hour.

Relay coil I01 becomes more highly energized than coil I06 and armature I08 is moved to the right, thereby causing switch blade I09 to engage contact III. Motor is now energized through the following circuits: from the low tension secondary 30 of transformer 8|, through conductors II3, 2I0, contacts 9|, 92, conductor 2, switch blade I08, contact III, conductor 2I2, contact elements 86 and 81 of switch 84, conductors 25I, 2I5, condenser 14, conductors 2I4, 2I1, coil 13, and conductor 2I6 to the other side of secondary 60. Current also flows through field winding 12 through the following circuit: from secondary 60 of transformer 8|, through conductors m, no, contacts 9| and s2, conductor 2| I, switch arm I03, contact III, conductor 2I2, switch elements 86, 81, conductor 25I through the field winding 12 and conductor 2I6 to the other side of secondary 80. Armature 1i accordingly rotates in the direction of the arrow and causes rotation of crank member 54 in the direction of the arrow. This in turn causes link 53 to pivot upwardly about the fulcrum 59 which is now stationary, thereby causing valve 50 to be more widely opened and thereby causing an increase in the flow of gas to burner I 0. Rotation of armature II causes movement of potentiometer arm I3I to the right and when this has moved to the right a sufiicient distance, it will balance the effect of potentiometer H8, as previously pointed out, and the current through coils I06 and I01 will become equal whereupon armature I08 is moved back to the position illustrated thereby breaking the circuit through the motor. The parts are so proportioned that the valve will be moved to a position permitting a how of fuel through the pipe II which is equal to the average flow during the preceding period which has been taken as one hour.

Very shortly after the motor I0 has been operated as described, cam 33 moves around to a position in which element 36 thereon bridges contacts 38 and 39 and the element 37 on cam it moves out of bridging relation with contacts 911 and 92. Electromagnet 22 is now energized through the following circuit: from the transformer secondary d2 of transformer 40 through conductor 22d, contacts 38 and 39, conductor 22I, electromagnet 22, and conductors 222 and 200 to the other side of secondary 42. Energization oi electromagnet 22 causes rack ii to move upwardly whereupon its teeth are disengaged from the gear it and spring 23 causes said rack H and potentiometer arm 28 to move to the right. As soon as cam 93 has rotated to a position in which contacts 39 and 99 are no longer bridged by element 3t, magnet 22 will be deenergized and rack ill will fall into engagement with gear I6 and will again begin to move to the left. If, during the next hour, valve 50 remains in the position to which it has been adjusted, the amount of gas passing through meter l5 will be the same as during the preceding hour and arm 2!! will be moved to exactly the same position that it was previously and since in this position motor It had rotated to a position in which the eifect of potentiometer lid on the relay coils tilt and EM was neutralized by the position of arm ltl on resistance ltd, the next time that contacts 9i and 92 are closed the motor will not rotate since coils ltd and it? are equally energized and armature lilt remains in the position illustrated and no current flows to the motor.

During the next hour, varying conditions may cause thermostat ill to operate the motor several times during that period. Thus, if the outside temperature has dropped considerably and the amount of gas being supplied by the valve is not sumcient, the thermostat will call for heat during a considerable portion of the time, during which time valve iii has been opened more widely and a greater amount of. gas is consumed during this period. Therefore, when the contacts 9i and are closed at the end of this period by the cam 95, arm 2i will have been moved further toward the left than it was during the last hour, indicating that a greater amount of gas has been consumed. This will cause operation of motor ill through the circuits previously described until potentiometer l It has again been balanced by the further movement toward the right of potentiometer arm I3I in which position the valve has been opened further by crank 54, pivot 58 having been moved upwardly. The amount of gas now permitted to flow through the pipe Ii by the valve will be equal to the average flow during the last hour.

Assume now that the outdoor temperature rises so that the supply of gas through valve I2 is greater than that necessary to maintain the desired room temperature. Thermostat blade I" will be moved into engagement with contact I19 when the temperature of the room rises to a high enough value whereupon coil IBI of relay I60 will become more highly energized than coil I62. Armature I44 of motor I40 is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the circuit through the motor being the same as that last described for said motor. This will cause crank 55 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown through 90, and will cause arm I50 to break the circuit through the motor after it has moved through 90 by opening switch elements I48 and I49. This movement of the valve will cause it to be moved from the previous position which may be taken as 55% maximumv opening to about maximum opening. It should be understood, of course, that the amount of movement that may be applied to the valve by crank 55 is not critical and may easily be varied by varying the throw of crank 55, or the relative distances of pivots 58 and 59 from pivot 60.

Assuming now that at the end of an hour the amount of gas consumed has been less than the preceding hour, arm M of potentiometer I8 will not have moved as far to the left as in the preceding period so that potentiometer arm I9! is too far to the right to just balance the poten- ,tiometer H8. Relay coil I06 will now be more highly energized than coil I01 and armature I08 will be moved toward the left, moving with it switch arm I09 into engagement with contact ,I I0. Current now flows to the motor 10 through the following circuit: .from the secondary 80 of transformer 8| through conductors IE3, 2I0, switch elements 9|, 92, conductor 2, switch ,arm I09, contact III], conductor 250, switch elements 08 and 99, conductors 2 I3, 2 ll, field winding it, and conductor 2H5 to the other side of transformer secondary 80. Current also flows from the secondary 80 through conductors H3, .2I0, contacts 9I, 92, conductor 2H, switch arm .109, contact lid, conductor 250, switch elements 08 and 89, conductors 2H3, 2I4, condenser l4, conductor 5H5, field winding I2 and through con- .ductor 2H5 to the other side of secondary 89. Armature it will now be caused to rotate in the direction opposite that indicated by the arrow causing crank member 54 to move in the same direction until arm Idl is moved far enough toward the left to balance the efiect of potentiom- .eter Ht on coils ltd and I M. Valve member 9% will now be set so that the flow 01. gas will be equal to the average flow during the preceding period.

Valve member has its bore somewhat smaller than the bore through the valve bedy and is so arranged that when crank 54 has been moved .to a position in which it causes valve 50 to move to permit maximum flow ofgas to pipe ii that it ,can still be moved upwardly through a small distance without reducing this maximum flow. When the valve is in its wide open position by prank 54, the lower portion of the bore through ,the valve element is in alignment with the lower portion of the bore through the valve body, and a further slight upward movement of the valve element by crank will not affect the amount of fuel passing through the valve. This is necessary since should it so happen that with the gas aflow at 100% maximum, it the outside tempera- (ill ,ture should be so cold that the amount of gas is still insufilcient to maintain the proper room temperature, crank member 55 will be actuated under the influence of the room thermostat I15 to attempt to open the valve still further and this additional movement may be imparted to the valve without afiecting the amount of gas passing through or in any way harming the valve.

It will therefore be seen that with my system there is always a flow of gas to the burner I during the heating season and this how of gas is varied at the beginning of each hour inaccordance with the amount or gas which was con- ,sumed the previous hour so that ii the heat demand or the space being heated during the following hour is about the same as the average ,heat demand of the preceding hour, there will be just the right amount of gas always flowing to the burner iii. By reason of having a constant flow of gas to the burner iii, the amount of fluctuation of the room temperature is greatly decreased, the time lag between call for heat in ,a space and the arrival of additional heat in the space is greatly decreased and the danger oi overshooting, or the temperature rising above a desired value is also greatly decreased,

It will be understood, of course, that the length of time between each operation of motor "iii may Joe set at any desired time and that the period of one hour which has been mentioned throughout the specification is purely arbitrary.

While I have described the preferred embodh ,ment of my invention it will be obvious to those skilled in the artthat it is capable of many vari ations and it should be understood that my invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a conditioning system, a conditioning yice for conditioning a space, means tor supplying a condition changing medium to said device at varying rates in accordance with the demands oi? said space for a predetermined interval, and means whereby the condition changing medium is subsequently supplied at a constant rate which is equal to the average rate during said predetermined interval as long as the demand of the space is equal to the average demand during said interval.

2. In a condition controlling system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for conducting a conditioning medium to said device, means for measuring the total amount of said medium required to maintain a certain condition in said space for a predetermined period of time, and means whereby the same amount of said medium may be supplied to said device at a constant rate during a like period of time.

3. In a condition controlling system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for conducting a conditioning medium to said device, means for measuring the total amount of said medium required to maintain a certain condition in said space for a predetermined period of time, and means whereby the conditioning medium may be subsequently supplied at a constant rate which is equal to the average rate during said predetermined period of time.

4. In a condition controlling system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means .for conducting a conditioning medium to said device, means for measuring the total amount of said medium required to maintain a certain condition in said space for a predetermined period (of time, and. means whereby the conditioning medium is subsequently supplied at a constant rate which is equal to the average rate during ,said predetermined period of time as long as the demand of the space is equal to the average demand during said interval.

5. In a temperature controlling system, a tem perature changing device for controlling the temperature of a space, means for conducting a temperature changing medium to said device, means for controlling the amount of medium supplied so as to maintain a substantially constant temperature in said space, means for determining the total amount of said medium required to maintain said constant temperature for a predetermined period, and means controlled by said last named means for subsequently causing said controlling means to supply the proper amount at a uniform rate as long as the demand in the space is the same as the average demand during said period.

ii. In a condition controlling system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for conducting a condition changing medium to said device, a valve for controlling the amount of said medium supplied, a first valve operating means, a second valve operating means, a device responsive to the condition lacing controlled controlling said second valve operating means, means connecting said valve and said second valve operating means whereby the valve can be adjusted a predetermined amount only from the position or" the valve maintained by said first valve operating means, and means for periodically operating said iirst valve operating means to cause said valve move to a position whereby the rate of supply of the condition changing medium is equal to the average rate oi? supply during the preceding period,

"it. In a condition controlling system, a conditioning device ior conditioning a space, means for conducting a condition changing medium to said device, a valve for controlling the amount of said medium supplied, a first valve operating means, a second valve operating means, a device responsive to the condition being controlled controlling said second valve operating means, means connecting said valve and said second valve operating means whereby the valve can be adjusted a predetermined amount only from the position oi the valve maintained by said first valve operating means, means for measuring the amount of the condition changing medium that is supplied during a predetermined period, and means controlled by said measuring means for causing said first valve operating means to move said valve to a position wherein the rate of supply of said condition changing medium is equal to the average rate of supply during said predetermined period.

8. In a condition controlling system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for conducting a condition changing medium to said device, valve means controlling the flow of said medium, a metering device through which the condition changing medium flows, a condition responsive device in the space to be conditioned, a main valve operating means, a secondary valve operating means under the control of said condition responsive device, means connecting said valve means and said secondary valve operating means whereby the valve means may be adjusted thereby a predetermined amount only from the position of the valve means maintained by said main valve operating means, means connecting said main valve controlling means and said metering device whereby said main valve operating means periodically changes the position of said valve means in accordance with the amount of condition changing medium used during the preceding period as determined by the metering device.

9. In a conditioning system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for conducting a conditioning medium to said device, valve means for controlling the amount of said medium supplied, means for periodically adjusting said valve means so that the rate of supply of said medium is equal to the average rate during the preceding period, and means whereby the valve means is adjusted during any period to permit the flow at a greater or lesser rate should the demand for said medium increase or decrease during said period.

10. In a conditioning system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for conducting a conditioning medium to said device, valve means for controlling the amount of said medium supplied, means for periodically adjusting said valve means so that the rate of supply of said medium is equal to the average rate during the preceding period, condition responsive means in the space to be conditioned, and means under the control of said condition responsive means for causing adjustment of said valve means at any time during any period in response to a demand for change in the rate of supply of said medium by said condition responsive means.

11. In a conditioning system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means forconducting a conditioning medium to said device, valve means for controlling the amount of said medium supplied, means for periodically adjusting said valve means so that the rate of supply of said medium is equal to the average rate during the preceding period, condition responsive neans in the space to be conditioned, means under the control of said condition responsive means for causing adjustment of said valve means at any time during any period in response to a demand for change in the rate of supply of said medium by said condition responsive means, and means for limiting the extent of adjustment of said valve means during any period from the normal position of said valve for said period.

12. In a condition controlling system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means .for conducting a condition changing medium to said device, condition responsive means in said space, means under the control of said condition responsive mean for varying the rate of supply of said medium in accdrdance with changing demands in said space, and means for periodically changing the limits between which the rate of supply may be varied by the condition responsive means, in accordance with the total amount of said medium supplied during the preceding period.

13. In a condition controlling system, a condition responsive means in a space whose condition is to be controlled, a conditioning device for said space, controlling means under the control of said condition responsive means for controlling the amount of a conditioning medium supplied to said device, a metering device operated by the flow of medium to the conditioning device and measuring the amount of medium being supplied thereto, and means operated by said metering device for adjusting the controlling means at the end of a predetermined period,

whereby the conditioning medium is supplied at a rate which is equal to the average rate of supply during said period.

14. In a condition controlling system, a condition responsive means in a space whose condition isto be controlled, a conditioning device for said space, controlling means under the control of said condition responsive means for controlling the amount of a conditioning medium supplied to said device, a metering device, means operated by said metering device for adjusting the controlling means at the end of a predetermined period whereby the conditioning medium is supplied at a rate which is equal to the average rate of supply during said period, and means whereby the controlling means is operated a limited amount only by the condition responsive means should the rate of fiow be improper to maintain the desired condition during the next period.

15. In a conditioning system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for conducting a conditioning medium to said device, controlling means whereby the amount of medium which may be conducted is varied in accordance with varying demands in said space, means providing limits between which said con trolling means may operate, and means for changing the limits at the end of each period in accordance with the amount of medium conducted in the preceding period.

16. In a conditioning system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for conducting a conditioning medium to saiddevice, controlling means whereby the amount of medium which may be conducted is varied in accordance with varying demands in said space, means providing limits between which said controlling means may operate, and means for adjusting the limits at the end of each period so that the limits are a predetermined amount above and below the average rate of conduction of the medium in the preceding period.

17. In a control system, a controller, means variably positioning said controller in accordance with a variable condition, a controlled device, means causing said controlled device to move to a position corresponding to the position of said controller, means periodically interrupting the control of the controller over the controlled device, and means after each of said interruptions for causing said controller to move to a starting position prior to subsequent movement of the controller to a position depending upon the variable condition.

18. In a control system, an electrical controller, means moving said controller from an initial position to a final position determined by a variable condition, a controlled device, circuit means causing said controlled device to move to a position corresponding to the position of said controller after the controller has moved from its initial position to its final position, and means for causing movement of said controller back to its initial position after said controlled device has moved to the above namedposition prior to subsequent movement of said controller to a final position as determined by the variable condition.

19. In a control system, an electrical controller, means causing movement of said controller from an initial position to a final-position determined by a variable condition, an electrically controlled device, circuit means connecting said controller and said controlled device for causing said controlled device to move to a position corresponding to said final position of said controller, switch means in control or said circuit means, means operating said switch means to close said circuit means after said controller has moved to its final position, and means for causing movement of said controller back to its initial position after said controlled device has moved to the above named position prior to subsequent movement of said controller to a final position as determined by the variable condition.

20. In a conditioning system, a conditioning device for conditioning a space, means for supplying a condition changing medium to said device at varying rates in accordance with the 1 demands of said space for one predetermined insame during a succeeding like interval the same amount of condition changing medium will be supplied during the succeeding interval as was supplied during the said one interval.

21. In a conditioning system, a method of control comprising supplying a medium having a character such that the amount of conditioning varies with the supply 01 medium, controlling the supply of said medium to maintain a given condition, measuring the amount of medium supplied during a given period of time while the condition was maintained substantially constant to determine the required rate of medium supply to maintain the given condition and adjusting the rate of medium supply in accordance with the rate so determined.

HENRY E. HARTIG. 

